Transmitting device, and communication system

Abstract

A transmitting device is mountable in a vehicle. A first detector detects entry of another vehicle into vicinity of a vehicle mounted with the transmitting device. A second detector detects stabilization in a relationship between the other vehicle and the vehicle after the first detector detects the entry. A recording unit records a vehicle behavior of the vehicle from timing when the first detector detects the entry of the other vehicle to timing when the second detector detects the stabilization in the relationship between the other vehicle and the vehicle. A transmitter transmits the vehicle behavior recorded in the recording unit after the second detector detects the stabilization.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmitting device mountable in a vehicle, comprising:
 a first detector that detects entry of another vehicle into vicinity of the vehicle mounted with the transmitting device; 
 a second detector that, after the first detector detects the entry of the other vehicle, detects stabilization in a relationship between the other vehicle and the vehicle; 
 a memory that records a vehicle behavior of at least one of the vehicle and the other vehicle from timing when the first detector detects the entry of the other vehicle to timing when the second detector detects the stabilization; 
 a transmitter that transmits the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory after the second detector detects the stabilization; and 
 an estimator that estimates position information about the other vehicle, 
 wherein the transmitter transmits the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory and also the position information estimated by the estimator. 
 
     
     
       2. The transmitting device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a determination processor that determines a risk that traveling of the other vehicle causes accident based on the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory,
 wherein when the risk determined by the determination processor is relatively high, the transmitter transmits the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory, and when the risk determined by the determination processor is relatively low, the transmitter does not transmit the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory. 
 
     
     
       3. A communication system comprising:
 a transmitting device mountable in a first vehicle; and 
 a reception device mountable in a second vehicle different from the first vehicle, 
 wherein the transmitting device includes
 a first detector that detects entry of the second vehicle into vicinity of the first vehicle, 
 a second detector that detects stabilization in a relationship between the second vehicle and the first vehicle after the first detector detects the entry of the second vehicle, 
 a memory that records a vehicle behavior of the first vehicle from timing when the first detector detects the entry of the second vehicle to timing when the second detector detects the stabilization, and 
 a transmitter that transmits the vehicle behavior recorded in the memory after the second detector detects the stabilization, and 
 
 the reception device includes
 a receiver that receives the vehicle behavior transmitted from the transmitter, and 
 a processor that processes the vehicle behavior received by the receiver. 
 
 
     
     
       4. A transmitting device mountable in a vehicle, comprising:
 a first detector that detects a lane change starting indicating that another vehicle starts making a lane change into a lane where the vehicle mounted with the transmitting device travels; 
 a second detector that detects lane change completion indicating that a distance between the vehicle and the other vehicle is a safe distance or falls within a predetermined variation range for a constant period after detection of the lane change starting; 
 a memory that records behavior information about the other vehicle from the detection of the lane change starting to detection of the lane change completion; and 
 a transmitter that transmits the behavior information about the other vehicle recorded in the memory after the detection of the lane change completion. 
 
     
     
       5. The transmitting device according to  claim 4 , further comprising an estimator that estimates position information about the other vehicle,
 wherein the transmitter transmits the position information estimated by the estimator, together with the behavior information about the other vehicle recorded in the memory. 
 
     
     
       6. The transmitting device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a determination processor that determines a risk of accident based on the behavior information about the other vehicle recorded in the memory,
 wherein when the risk determined by the determination processor is equal to or more than a threshold, the transmitter transmits the behavior information about the other vehicle recorded in the memory, and when the risk determined by the determination processor is less than the threshold, the transmitter does not transmit the behavior information about the other vehicle recorded in the memory.